The Toronto Maple Leafs ended the 2024–25 season as one of the top teams in the league, and while they had some great roster players, they ended up missing out on a proper first-round draft pick. However, it wasn’t as deep a draft as in previous years. With that being said, the Leafs were still able to walk away with some great players and a diverse draft class. Let’s take a look at how they are doing so far.
Tinus Luc Koblar (64th overall, 2nd round)
Tinus Luc Koblar was the Leafs’ first pick in 2025 at 64th overall, a big centre from the Swedish junior ranks. Koblar sticks out with his (6′3″) size and his raw physical ability, and he is seen as a forward with the tools for forechecking, puck protection, and defensive responsibility. While he isn’t an elite offensive forward, he can use his size in transition to shut down opposing players while still maintaining his abilities. He isn’t as aggressive as a Tom Wilson-style player, but he can be a necessary two-way player.
His offensive game remains unrefined, though. He can be there to help set up plays and has good passing skills, but lacks the high-end finish to make his own highlight-reel moves. Last season in Sweden, his point production was not particularly strong, and scouts report that he’ll need time to develop, especially in his skating, creativity, and consistency, to be considered ready for an NHL role. Koblar is very much a work in progress. If he does develop properly, he could eventually serve as a middle-six, two-way centreman. However, he still has a long way to go.
Tyler Hopkins (86th overall, 3rd round)
Tyler Hopkins was chosen 86th overall in the 3rd round. Before the draft, he played for the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs. This season, Hopkins has put together a respectable season: 12 goals and 25 points in 28 games, a good starting point for a young centre. He’s seen as a two-way forward with solid defensive capabilities, strong puck-handling, and a willingness to get to work on defence – traits that can make him appealing as a depth centre option.
Most analysts see him as the most “NHL-ready” among the Leafs’ picks in the 2025 draft. He stood within the organization and had high praise during training camp. That said, he’ll still need an additional couple of years in the juniors or the minors before he can challenge for an NHL spot.
William Belle (137th overall, 5th round)
With the 137th pick in the 5th round, the Leafs chose William Belle, a big-bodied right wing from the U.S. National Development Program of the USHL. Belle offers that prototypical size and physical play styles some teams really need: tough forecheck, willing to battle, and power-forward size. But he remains rough around the edges.
Scouts generally view him as lacking polish—his skating, consistency, and offensive instincts need refinement before there’s any realistic NHL outlook. Essentially, Belle is a long-term, low-ceiling/high-floor type of pick: if developed properly, he might become a bottom-six forward with physical presence, but it’s a big “if.”
Harry Nansi (153rd overall, 5th round)
The Leafs used their second 5th-rounder on Harry Nansi, a winger from the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack. This season, he is doing pretty well; he has posted 37 points in 33 games, a massive leap from last year. By most accounts, Nansi is an underrated player with some upside but a long way to go to develop. He’ll need to grow physically, improve his decision-making, and find consistency before being considered a viable NHL-level candidate. Right now, he’s a low-odds depth pick: the upside is modest, but in a deep system, that modest upside may be all the Leafs need for a late-round pick to gradually work his way up.
Rylan Fellinger (185th overall, 6th round)
The only defenceman picked by Toronto in 2025 was Rylan Fellinger, a right-shot blueliner from the OHL’s Flint Firebirds. Fellinger is a classic “size-and-reach” pick: 6′4″, sizeable frame, right shot, the kind of physical traits teams often draft in hopes they can be moulded into solid stay-at-home defenders. Offensively, his 2024–25 numbers were nothing special (a few points from the blueline), which suggests he’s not likely to be an offensive defender. This season, he has only six points in 29 games. Given that profile, Fellinger is a long shot to become an NHL regular, but he fits the sort of depth-defence profile that could someday fill a bottom-line role, especially if he develops his positioning, defensive instincts, and skating.
Matthew Hlacar (217th overall, 7th round)
With their final pick, 217th overall, the Leafs selected Matthew Hlacar, a 6′3″ left wing from the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers. As a late-round pick, expectations for Hlacar should be modest. He currently has six points in 19 games this season. Late-rounders rarely make the jump directly into the league, and Hlacar will likely need years of development before even being considered a candidate for the NHL roster. That said, the Leafs may view him as a depth option who, with hard work and development, could fill a bottom-six role. In deep organizations, players like him sometimes surprise, though that remains a long shot.
